Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Clare loves to read. She also loves to wind down after school by listening to a chapter book on CD while she gets changed out of her uniform after school. I try to keep her supply of reading and listening materials well stocked from our local library. Clare will tell you she likes (loves) the Mary Kate & Ashley series, but I try to give her books with a bit more substance to them. Here are some of her favorite books that I have checked out for her, they average about a 4th grade reading level.

Monday, March 10, 2014

One year ago we were blessed to welcome this sweet boy into our lives!

(OK, 1 year and 3 days ago...)

Michael is as sweet as can be and enjoys sitting back and taking in everything around him. He has been the best infant sleeper we have had and has never thought twice about eating whatever combination of peas and green beans I offer him. Michael adores Jude, who can always get a giggle out of him or cheer him up when he has his moments (mostly just when he's strapped in the car at school pick up). He loves to read. He loves any kind of ball. He loves being outside. And anything with wheels - including transformers.

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

While we were iced/snowed in on Sunday, Clare and I put together a paper chain to count down the 40 days of Lent. She added various Lenten activities on each link to do each day. (I was promoting things like "help Mom." She was writing things like "do a play of Jesus on the cross." Oh boy.)

I printed off these Lenten countdown calendars for Clare, Jude, and Ellen and hung them on the fridge. Although it's only day 1 and I'm not sure if we are getting the concept since Ellen has already asked several times today if Lent is over yet...

Friday, February 28, 2014

1. Our week started off with a Daytona 500 win from our (Ryan's) beloved Dale Earnhardt, Jr! That's pretty much been the high of the week. Especially since the last time Dale won that race was in 2004 after we had been married about 6 weeks. I realized then what I had gotten myself into. Ha ha.

2. It has actually been a pretty low-key week here, which I actually like. It's nice to be home with Ellen and Michael and not rushing about. I've actually made a few freezer meals this week (for days/weeks that are a bit more hectic), caught up on laundry, role-played Barbie in a Pony Tale more times than I care to admit, and have a full day of cleaning ahead of me today!

3. Michael has learned to pull himself to a standing position and now stands everywhere and anywhere. He has also discovered the stairs which pretty much means my life is over. I'm not looking forward to resurrecting the baby gate at the bottom of the steps, but I'm also not looking forward to rescuing him off the steps 23498758 times a day...

4. I've made 2 batches of these muffins over the past few weeks. Mostly because Post raisin bran was on sale for $1.77 a box...and Clare informed me after I bought 2 boxes that she only likes the grocery store's (generic) raisin bran granola. So I've been enjoying many muffins for breakfast! And there's still an unopened box in the pantry...

5. Another link to this gem that the adults in the house have watched several times... Ryan's video editing skills are impressed by this wonder.

6. This girl.

She's been into straightening her naturally curly blonde locks, and looks so different with her hair straight! Too funny.

(And while shopping at Target this week, we passed by this wall decor and she wanted to buy it for Ryan...because the glasses on it reminded her of her BFF.)

7. Wrapping up with words a friend shared with us this week that I have heard a million times before but needed to hear again...

Thursday, February 20, 2014

We are being spoiled this week with a spell of warm weather. Daily highs have reached almost 60 degrees and the snow is a-melting! Michael, Ellen, and I have coasted around the block after lunch and my baby boy loves crawling around the deck in the sunshine. Spring/summer (baseball!) jammies have even replaced footie pj's this week.

Jude told me that Punxsutawney Phil was wrong and spring is here. He also requested his summer shorts and tees be placed in his dresser while he was at school today. (He hasn't checked the forecast for next week.) Yesterday after school he changed into shorts and a T-Shirt, but left his dark socks on with his summer attire. I'm hoping he looses those when summer officially arrives...

Monday, February 3, 2014

Of course we went to a Superbowl Shindig last night and watched the game ate yummy food with friends like good Americans. One of the things I brought was Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Dip which was scraped clean out of the bowl. (And who would have thought that my non-chocolate-loving husband gave it 2 thumbs up. Go me.) But seriously, this stuff is G-O-O-D!

Sunday, February 2, 2014

"Are you cold? Temperatures lately have been dropping. It is very icy, too. I vet you are shivering right now. It's so cold that I think that I think that the ice will cause a freeze. Icicles have formed on roofs. We do have a chance of snow! I hope so! Snow keep your hopes up!"

It's the epitome of holidays here today - Groundhog Day AND the Superbowl on the SAME DAY?!? That probably only happens once in a billion years. So we are celebrating it up! Happy Sunday!

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Popping in for our big news this weekend...Clare made her First Reconciliation on Saturday morning! We are so proud of how she prepared herself for the sacrament. (She has been practicing the Act of Contrition every night since the last day of 1st grade - maybe too much because last night Ellen prayed it saying: "Oh my God I am heartly sorry for having offended anyone named Clare.")

On Saturday morning, Clare wore the same bracelet she wore on her Baptism - a gift from my parents that has a cross and miraculous medal on it. Each child was given a book about Reconciliation to complete after they had been to confession. The prayer that Clare wrote said, "I felt so happy when I left confession. I want to go back again!"

Hello my name is...

I have been married for 9 years to a husband that makes me laugh everyday. I stay at home with our 4 kiddos and spend my days folding laundry, filling sippy cups, and thinking of ways to make our house a home. My husband will tell you my one weakness is a bag of oreos...and I would have to agree!